I'm not convinced we need to go full strength there, simply swapping Yaya for Fernandinho would completely change the performance of that side imo.

You are quite correct, sadly the City great Yaya's time has come to make way, he may be able to do a job elsewhere but I think he has stood still while city has moved on a pace and i think that is why Pep sold him in the first place.

What a fabulous player he has been for us and will always be remembered as such.

Breath of fresh air to hear a manager being genuinely appreciative of his opponent. Well done Pep

It felt like a grind at times last night and the contrast between Yaya's contribution and how Fernandinho does that job has never been starker. That certainly didn't help our defence either in offering any protection or providing them with the options to play required under Pep. It was reminiscent of how we were when Pep first arrived. He may well be able to close games out when they are won but is not suited to the pace at which the ball has to be received and distributed from that central role. His absence of pace in both movement to get into position to receive the ball or move it quickly when he was given it seriously hampered us. I agree with JB - we cannot start at Ashton Gate with Yaya in that role.

That said young Oleksndr did Mangala no favours whatsoever when he received the ball from Stones before the goal. Zinchenko was stood watching the ball being played to Mangala instead of moving outside him to the wing to provide an option for a pass. Mangala could and should have done better but he wasn't helped by his team mate.

Bristol did indeed do very well but contrary to the media presentation of them as 'plucky underdogs from the bottom reaches of the Football League' they are in currently fourth in the Championship 2pts off an automatic promotion spot. It was never going to be a walk in the park irrespective of our record breaking win - that is the nature of cup football, especially a semi final.

Bristol City had already beaten four premier league Clubs in this competition and it is always a good indicator that they would do well in the Premier League, and there was a suggestion that more sides should follow Bristol's example of how to play City, but what most people do not realise is that had city played their usual starters I think the gap would have been wider.So the sobriquet 'Underdogs' did not quite fit as it would for a Club like Hartlepool United

Skoorb, quite rightly points the finger at Zinchenko and gave Elia no way out and another indicator that you need to play regularly together to bond.

Skoorb also quite rightly indicates the shortcomings of Yaya, in the vastly different team that he himself was a regular starter for and one now where yaya is no longer first name on the team sheet.

City had a couple or so nervy moments in defence, from set pieces and on the break, but Dub's right.
If we'd been more clinical in front of goal (Bernardo was one glaring example), and chosen better options with the pass, we could easily be in a much more comfortable position.
I can't see us not scoring down there in the second leg.

City had a couple or so nervy moments in defence, from set pieces and on the break, but Dub's right.
If we'd been more clinical in front of goal (Bernardo was one glaring example), and chosen better options with the pass, we could easily be in a much more comfortable position.
I can't see us not scoring down there in the second leg.

Mangala, an experienced player should have done a whole lot better than giving the ball away prior to the penalty. Not the best thing to be blaming the young bloke Zinchenko whatsoever.

It was a combination of factors - the pass from Stones put Mangala under pressure who could and should have done better, but he wasn’t helped out by Zinchenko watching it unfold rather than moving wide to give Mangala an ‘out’ ball.

Olkesandr was not solely responsible of course but that’s two defensive howlers in the last two games which feel like an unwelcome throwback to the beginning of last season. I am sure Pep will sort it out :-)